Sunday, November 30, 2008

I’m sure this is hard to contemplate, but if we are going to have any real change it’s time to face up to our past. The example we have provided for years by covert operations, carried out all over the third world, and currently in our illegal wars, secret detentions, extraordinary rendition, and torture does not make us any kind of beacon of hope. It certainly does not make us safer.

I’m ashamed, as I enjoy the luxury of plenty in this country, knowing that many of resources have been taken from countries who had no way to protect their resources and, if they tried, the blood flowed as a warning to step away from what the corporation involved were after.

And that doesn’t even count the profiteering involved in providing arms and procuring lucrative government no-bid contracts.

And now former military brass, who lobby for corporations seeking these contracts, are marketing all this to the American people when they are hired as “talking heads” on our tv machines. If we are really about change, it’s time to face our own past and make some serious restitution and hold those responsible accountable.

This is a defining moment. We either live by the rule of law or we don’t. If we don’t hold the people accountable for these crimes against humanity, it’s just business as usual. This will lead to no future for anyone’s children here on planet Earth.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

→As the Bush Administration comes to an end, people who care about democracy and the rule of law are asking if there will be prosecutions for war crimes. The Bush Administration has clearly violated numerous laws governing armed conflict and human rights.

Rachel talks to Jonathan Turley about whether the Democrats are going to let Bush off the hook for torturing prisoners.

Monday, November 24, 2008

→With tough economic times getting tougher, we're hearing an endless droning of conservatives repeating their mantra of tax cuts for the rich.

The supposed logic of their appeal/demand for tax cuts for the wealthy is that rich people 'give' jobs to poor people and the richer the rich people get, the more jobs they 'create' and 'give' to poor people.

This fable of where jobs come from is about as real as the explanation that the stork brings babies.

The facts of economic life are that jobs are created by demands for goods & services and middle-class consumers create those demands.

Hiring workers isn't an act of charity, it's an essential ingredient in making profits. Without workers producing, there are no profits for investors to collect.

Rich people/investors/capitalists invest in the means of producing the good and services that consumers demand. But those means of production (factories and offices) don't produce anything. People must be hired to do the work that produces the goods and services. Those people are paid a wage to do the actual work that meets the demand for goods and services. If those workers are paid decent wages, they are the middle-class consumers who create the demand. If the investors are too greedy and the workers poorly paid, the demand and the profits dry up.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

→I hate the phrase "a must read", so I'll say you really really should read the letter written to Newt Gingrich by his sister Candace.

Dear Newt,

I recently had the displeasure of watching you bash the protestors of the Prop 8 marriage ban to Bill O'Reilly on FOX News. I must say, after years of watching you build your career by stirring up the fears and prejudices of the far right, I feel compelled to use the words of your idol, Ronald Reagan, "There you go, again."

However, I realize that you may have been a little preoccupied lately with planning your resurrection as the savior of your party, so I thought I would fill you in on a few important developments you might have overlooked.

The truth is that you're living in a world that no longer exists. I, along with millions of Americans, clearly see the world the way it as -- and we embrace what it can be. You, on the other hand, seem incapable of looking for new ideas or moving beyond what worked in the past.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

→Your Weekly Address from the President-electPresident-elect Barack Obama announces he has directed his economic team to assemble an Economic Recovery Plan that will save or create 2.5 million more jobs by January of 2011. For more information, visit http://change.gov./

Obama sounds mighty progressive in todays address with an economic recovery plan that will put people to work rebuilding America's infrastructure.

How interesting that just yesterday, the talkingheads were trying to conjure up a battle between Obama and the Netroots. It seems that some anonymous staffer proclaimed that the Netroots have no clout because Joe Lieberman didn't get thrown out of the Democratic caucus in the Senate.

What's worth taking note of is that the Netroots are sufficiently influential that the MSM interviews bloggers and Congress pays attention to what's being said by the Netroots.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

In conjunction with nation-wide rallies being held at the same time, in support of marriage equality and in protest of California's Proposition 8, people cames out to the streets of Bellingham. there was a large gathering when i arrived and an hour and a half later when we all marched to the market there was a very large crowd. it was so amazing. i'm told the organization started on wednesday with a couple of people. and the numbers of young people once again gave me hope for the future.

a truly inspirational day!!!! thank you all who suited up and showed up ...you rock!!!

i have hope our democracy will protect us from the tyranny of the majority.yes we can!!!!!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

i have started communication with the president-elect's transition site change.gov. this campaign was about "us" and yes we did!! so in that spirit i will send my ideas as a citizen of this democracy and inhabitant of the planet.

Thom Hartmann’s plan for the auto industry is the best I’ve heard yet. Immediate move to production of flex fuel plug in hybrid vehicle.

The cost of the 10kwh battery used in other countries, produced here would go from $7000 to $2000. Most trips made by people in our country are 10 miles or fewer for a round trip. This change makes every gallon of gas last for 100 miles. When you change to 20% gas, 80% ethanol/methanol that gallon of gas lasts for 500 miles.

This addresses the auto industry bailout, climate change, resource depletion(worldwide peak oil, which has already happened or will in the next 10 minutes) and the destructive strategic value of oil. It seems the oil and auto lobbyists are the drivers of years of shameless, criminal policy because oil is subsidized. Currently there is a tax on resources to make flex fuels and no tax on imported oil. Aid to dependent corporations is what I heard Robert Reich calls it. My question is WHY? This is not the lead in to my conspiracy theory. This is an honest question. We can fight and die and destroy our home, planet earth, or we can work with the other humans on earth to save it. Send oil the way of whale oil, strip it of it's strategic value.

Sunday, November 09, 2008

The election produced a progressive mandate. Conservatives can only scramble to shift the blame for the mess they made while in power and throw up roadblocks against repairing the economy they've nearly shattered.

Rank-'n'-file conservatives/Republicans are searching desparately for a way to explain away their support for crooked politicians and disastrous policies. Many of them are looking to "those intent on poisoning the soil before bipartisanship can take root": (Right-wing media feeds its post-election anger)

Thursday, November 06, 2008

this is a great win for the State of Washington!!!!! we will have the chance to have our public lands and natural resources protected for those who come after.

Originally published Thursday, November 6, 2008 at 6:00 PMGoldmark wins Wash. lands commissioner raceDemocrat Peter Goldmark emerged as the winner in the state lands commissioner race Thursday, relying on the support of environmentalists and strong backing in King County to unseat two term incumbent Doug Sutherland.By GENE JOHNSONAssociated Press WriterSEATTLE —Democrat Peter Goldmark emerged as the winner in the state lands commissioner race Thursday, relying on the support of environmentalists and strong backing in King County to unseat two-term incumbent Doug Sutherland.After more than two days of vote counting, the Okanogan rancher and molecular biologist built an insurmountable lead, 51.1 percent to 48.9 percent."I am so grateful to the people of Washington for their support in restoring public trust to the management of our public lands," Goldmark said in a written statement from his 8,000-acre wheat and cattle ranch. "My goal is sustainable management of public resources, transparency in management and reliance on science and law in decision making."full article

Karl Rove and other assorted criminals and co-conspirators Republican operatives are trying to sell the lies that: 1.) this is a center-right nation and 2.) people voted for Barack Obama without knowing his politics.

The truth is that America is a center-left country, where progressive ideas are the norm, and most people who voted for Obama believe he is a liberal. The Pew Research Center found that: "Despite Obama's strong personal appeal, his supporters overwhelmingly say they favored him based on his issue positions (68%), not his leadership and personal qualities (30%). "

What must have the rightwings "thinkers" feeling especially desperate is that the next generation is lost to them; "Fully 61% of voters ages 18 to 29 identify or lean Democratic ..." (source: Pew Research)

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

we were on the streets all day and over to Frank n Steins for a righteous celebration.....thanks to all who have worked so hard to make this happen.let's push Obama to do the right thing and get his back.....

America has voted for change. America has voted for the progressive policies put forward by Barack Obama and the Democratic Party. (See Paul Krugman's thoughts on this)

The ultra-right circulated every fear-mongering, filthy lying smear they could dream up and America still voted overwhelmingly for progressive change.

Obama has been elected in what can only be called a landslide... Democratic majorities in the House and Senate have been increased... the number of States with Democratic Governors has gone up to thirty.

But even with this kind of mandate, progressive changes won't just happen. The Lobbyists for selfishness and greed are still there on K street. The rightwing media machine is still churning out its propaganda promoting fear and small mindedness. They'll still be trying with all their might to trick people into believing that Government of, for and by the People is some sort of 'evil collectivism'.

So after a little celebrating and a moment or two to gloat, we progressives have our work cut out for us. Those progressive policies won't be implemented unless we diligently push for them. We must stay involved, stay in contact with our representatives in Washington D.C. and Olympia, pushing for progressive legislation.